Seed mixer and agitator



Feb., 11y 1936. A, HOLMQUlS-nwww1 SEED MIXERA-ND AGITATOR Y F11ed May 31, 1954 5 sheets-Sheet 1 Mm.. u, m6. A. HOLMQUIST www SEED MIXER AND AGITATOR Filed May 3l, 1954 5A Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor M. M, 1936, A. HOLMQUIST v 030ml SEED MIXER AND AGITATOR Filed May 31, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 q .Bv

' i Attorney FEE.. u, 1936. @HOLMQUISE f www SEED MIXER AND AGITATOR Filed May 31, 1954 5 sheen-*sheet 4 l E v E Attorney Feb. 1l, 1936. A. HoLMQUlsT 2,030,591

SEED MIXER AND AGITATOR Filed May 31, 1954 5 sheets-sheet 5 Q o l@ @WI- Q w 5 Kb J Attomey Patented Feb. l1, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEED MIXER AND AGITATOR Albert Holmquist, Holmquist, S. Dak. Application May 31, 1934, Serial No. 728,423 4 Claims.` (Cl. 259-82) My invention relates generally to apparatus for handling, mixing, rand agitating granular material such as seeds, and an important object of my invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple and inexpensive and may be either power or hand operated.

It is also an important object of my invention to provide -a device of the ch-aracter indicated which is capable of handling containers of diiferent sizes for containing the granular material.

It is also an important object of my invention to provide a device of the character indicated embodying means for holding the container in different positions while the s-ame is being revolved to mix and agitate the granular material therein. V

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description in connection with the drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure l is a side bodiment.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view taken from the left of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the container mounted in a position at right angles to that in which it is shown mounted in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top plan View' showing the container in its frame or cradle.

Figure 6 is an end elevational view of a portion of the container.,

Figure 7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the container.

Figure 9 is a transverse vertical sectional view through Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the connecting links of the side members of the cradle.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the side members of the cradle.

Figure 12 is a transverse vertical sectional View showing the toothed wheel on the operating shaft and its pawl.

Figure 13 is a slide latches. y

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numerals 5 and 6 refer respectively to end members of the supporting frame of the device each of which is composed of a straight inclined standard prespective view of one of the elevational view .of the emp 'I and a bent inclined standard 8 joined at their lower ends by a bar 9; also joined at their upper y ends by a bar I3 overlying which and connected to which is a bar II which extends quite a distance beyond one side where it is connected to the standard 'I by an angulated brace I 2. Crossed braces I3, I4 connect the standards 'l and also the standards 8 to properly space the end members 5 and 6 as shown in Figure 1.

On the upper side of the bar II which is an angle iron there is mounted directly over the end members 5, 6, respectively, bearings I5, I6, 'respectively, journaling the operating shaft I'I which has the operating handle I8 outward of the end member 6 as shown in Figure 1. The opposite end of the operating shaft I I has inwardly of the end member 5 a sprocket wheel 2I over which is trained a chain 22 which is trained over the larger sprocket wheel 23 which is xed on the stub shaft 24 which is mounted in the bearing 25. This bearing 25 and the bearing 26 are mounted on the bars II and directly over and between the standards I and 8 of the end members 5, 6 respectively.

The sprocket 23 is located intermediate the ends of the stub-shaft 24 one end of which is journaled in the bearing 25 and the opposite end has iiXed thereto the elongated plate 28 which i's provided with the longitudinally spaced bolt holes 29. AXially aligned with the stub-shaft 24 is the stub-shaft 3D which has iixed to one end the elongated plate 3I provided With the bolt holes which are similar to the holes 29 in plate 28. Shaft 38 has its opposite end journaled in the bearing 26 outwardly of which it is provided with the toothed wheel I9 with which is engageable the pawl or shaft locking dog 20. It will be obvious that by rotating the handle I8 the sprocket chain con nection will drive the stub-shaft 24 and the frame or cradle generally designated 33 which is mounted thereon and also on the elongated plate 3|, if the dog is disengaged.

The cradle 33 is composed of two side members 34, 35 each of which is elongated and U-shaped and provided in its legs with bolt holes 36 to receive bolts 3l, 38, respectively which are adjustably placed in these holes and in the holes of the elongated plates 28, 3| to predetermine the width of the cradle for accommodating containers 39 of different sizes and shapes.

FiXedly mounted on the bight portions of the side members 34, 35 are the toothed wheels 40, 4I respectively, with which are engageable spring pressed sliding latches 42, 43, respectively each of which is slidably mounted in the brackets 44, 44 and 45 connected to the side members 46, 41,

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respectively, of the longitudinal side members of the clamp structure which immediately engages the exterior of the container 39 to hold the same in the cradle in the position of angularity with respect to the cradle which is determined by the release of and the subsequent selective placement of the latches 42, 43 with the teeth of their respective toothed wheels 45, 4l. By means of this arrangement the container may be positioned at right angles to the cradle as shown in Figure 4 or axially aligned with the cradle as shown in Figure 1 or in some selected intermediate position, ac-

cording to the type of mixing or agitating to beV done. Pivots 46 pass through the central portions of the side bars of the cradle and through the toothed wheels 46 and 4I respectively and en ter pivot holes in the side members 46 and 41 so that said side members and the container can rotate on the pivots when the latches 42 and 43 are in releasing position.

'The clamp structure of which the sidemernbersV 46,V 41 form apart includes the adjustable bands or straps 48, 49 at one end and 56, 5l at the opposite end for encircling the container 39 near the ends thereof. Nuts 52 on the ends of the bands which pass through the side members 46, 48 enable clamping the bands tightly around the container 39 in an obvious manner. A convenient lever l2 is pivotally mounted on each of the side members 46, 4l for operating the respective latches 42, 43 into and out of selective engagement withtheir respective toothed wheels 40, 4|.

The container 39 is of the metallic drum type having the extruded annular shoulders 53, 54

strengthening the sides thereof and. providing for ease in handling.

On the discharge end of the container 36 is an eccentrically located reduced neck 55 which has on 'its outer end a iiange 56. A telescoping stopper 5,1 has the ange 58 for engaging the ange 56 while the cylindrical portion 59 is telel scoped within the neck 55. A handle 66 having side portions 6l and'52, respectively, is xed to the outer end of the stopper. Spring clips 63, 64 are hinged as indicated at 65, 66, respectively, to the end portions of the parts 5l, 62 to be snapped around the flanges 58, 56 and engaged behing theV flange 56 to` hold the cover removably in place.

; The flange 55 on the neck 55 also provides means for connecting a sack or bag to the neck 55 by contracting the bag around the neck 55 behind the flange'56.

" Within the neck 55 and extending in axial alignment to the opposite end of the container are flat agitator bars 6'! which are attached to the neck as indicated at 58 and attached to the: opposite end of the container by laterally directed portions as indicated at 553.' The 'agitator bars 61 are circumferentially spaced with regard lto the neck 55 and operate in an eccentric position 'duringthe rotation of the container on its axis to adequately mix'and agitate the contents of the container. These agitator bars also act'eiciently v While vthe container is in the right angulated position shown in Figure 4 to mix and agitate 'the contents in the container while it is being revolved in the position shown in Figure 4.

VReferring again to the latch mechanism which i's common-to both sides of the clampwhich directly holds the "container 3S, it will be found showninFigure 5 that the latch 42 has its wide portion'slidably conned by the nbracket 44 and has its operative end portion coniined by another bracket 44 which also overlies the toothed Wheel 46. The reduced portion 68 of the latch has circumposed thereon the spring 69 which works between the shoulder i5 and the bracket 45. A pin 'H projecting from the wide portion of the latch is engageable by the operating lever 12. The.

operating lever being pivoted as indicated at l2' withdraws the latch from its toothed wheel when the lower part of the lever 12 is swung toward the right. The levers l2 are connected by the rod 'i3 so that the levers can be operated in unison.

Although I have shown and described herein V a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be denitely understood that I do not desire to limit the Yapplication of the invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made in material and structure and arrangement of parts Within the spirit oi the invention and the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed iszl. An agitating and mixing device of the character described, said device comprising a support, a laterally expansible cradle revolubly mounted on said support, a container clamping frame pivotally connected to the opposite sides of said cradle, said frame being arranged for clamping a longitudinally disposed container, and adjustable means pivotally connecting the side of said clamping frame to a side of said cradle, said means comprising a pivot mounted on said side of the cradle, a toothed wheel concentric with said pivot and xed against rotation relative to said side, and dog means mounted on said side of the clamping frame and normally engaging said toothed wheel to lock-said frame from rotating relative tosaid cradle. Y Y v 2. An agitating and mixing device of the char# acter described, said devicey comprising a support, a laterally expansible cradle revolublyV mounted o'n said support, a container clamping frame pivotally connected to the opposite sides of said cradle, said frame being arranged for clamping a longitudinally disposed container, said clamping framer including side members, container encircling members connected to said side members, and mea-ns for expanding and contracting said container encirclingV means.

3. In a device of the class described, a cradle including a pair of substantially U-shaped side f bars and a pair of end bars, means for adjustably connecting the end bars to the limbs of the side bars, a trunnion extending outwardly from the central portion of each end bar, a supporting frame i'n which the trunnions are rotatably arranged, means for rotating one trunnion, a container clamping frame, said clamping frame in` justing the frame relative to the cradle and means for adjusting the clamping frame to suit different sizes of containers.

ALBERT HOLMQUIST. 

